Prologue (1) :- Running Away From The Engagement

"Prince hurry up. The royal court is waiting for you." A man covered in black robe with a black mask sewed with golden thread, which represents the royal family delivered the message bowing respectfully. His extremely indifferent tone was the proof of his proffesionalism masked with lots of wraps in this emotionless world.

When he got no response even after waiting for a while slightly doubtful, he decieded to remove the heavy, dark grey curtain. Just as his hands was going to lift the curtain, a deep voice inturrupted him, "Wait for a while, I am getting ready. Let Royal Grandfather know that I will be there in a moment."

Although not fully convinced Lucas decieded not to go against the going to be Crown Prince and it was not really abnormal to not get nervous on the day of one's enthronement and Betrothel announcement.

However the a while soon turned into an hour and he finally dared to take a peek inside the room, with a heavy blush he thought, "It's not sexual harassment Lucas, calm down. It's your royal duty to be thoughtful of his special day and you both are men.. YEAH JUST CALM DOWN."

After calming himself down when he took a peek inside the room, he literally got a mini heart attack. His higness was missing and as for the voice from earlier... OH WELL A CHATBOT WAS RIGHT THERE. As expected, he was foolish to think a simple threat will be able to waver his decision.

He really wanted to dig a hole and jump into it so that he would be able to save himself from the dilemma as for whether to be loyal to His higness who helped him regain his emotions and be a human again from submerging into the cruelity of the royalities or to the current ruler who took him in and gave him shelter when he was at his lowest.

Lucas was taken in the palace as a small palace guard in his teenage by Wang Yiwan's Grandfather when he was only a boy.

With his capability he slowly rose up in ranks and was finally appointed as the main guard of the to be crown prince.

He was also the one who didn't merely take him as a lowly guard, but trusted him as a good friend. The relationship between them over the years has developed to such a point that he was the only one who has encountered the crown prince's beloved woman, for whom the prince could even let go of his kingdom, wealth and every other worldly possessions.

However subconsciously he also knew that he couldn't leave his morals behind just in order to get a mere promotion. It really didn't hold much value atleast to him.

Maybe he could be cruel enough if he didn't notice for himself how much his highness cared for Milady. Maybe he could also be cruel enough, if not for the fact that Milady was the first person who was able to make him cry, Maybe he could still stone his heart if he didn't see for himself how the prince became emotionless to hide his sorrow when Milady rejected him thoroughly.

Yes, he wanted the best for his highness and he couldn't bear to see him suffer in the same grief which almost made him lose his sanity and go beshark.

_____________

In the Royal Court,

"Where Is Wang Lei. It's getting late. Sir Eric and Madan Reneka has been waiting for a long time now. Just because he is going to be enthroned doesn't mean he can disrespect his future in laws."

The present king Wang Shao, also Wang Lei's Great Great Grandfather finally spoke up in his ever so authorative voice without a hint of aging.

Even the present knights and respected guests couldn't help but panic. The trusted royals were all aware of the internal conflict between the great great grandfather and grandson pair.

However this wasn't a mere betrothal promise, that could be easily broken. A marriage alliance was extremely necessery to maintain the peace of "The Haozhuo Lands" and keep the "Ziwa" clan on a edge. Recently they were also revealing their pawns and if by any chance the news of this conflict reaches them the condition is going to worsen.

Before Lucas could answer his memorised answer that he made up himself, A imposing figure entered The court with slow and deliberate powerful steps, "Who said I'm disrespecting my Future in laws?" Dark eyebrows raised gave him a rougish feauture to his noble persona.

"No wonder, gossips about him being cold and monsterous is spread all around the neigbour continents, apart from Rethene, They must be really worried about this piece of eye candy getting snatched away." Maria thought a bit bashfully, sitting next to her parents.

"How can I not attend my own engagement Yasha?"

With a careless look he gazed at Maria and then knelt infront of her while holding a boquet of Red Roses in his hands, "Aren't you gonna accept them Maria? " He asked surprising her with his gentleness completely different to his great reluctance from earlier.

"Maybe He was just playing hard to get, And here I almost thought he wasn't charmed by me. Chelesa was right, All cold, expressionless men just try to play cool." Maria extended her delicate palm to recieve the boquet.

Meanwhile, unknown to everyone a lady dressed in fiery red gown witnessed all these from a corner and left silently just like her silent sorrow.

"I gave you chances after chances, but heh, who knew you were just going to prove me pathetic."

Her heart was so much in pain that she couldn't even breathe, however her eyes were completely dry, devoid of any signs of crying. She was done being bitter, from now onwards that person or his well being would have absolutely nothing to do with her.

The unknown suffocation was squeezing her heart. It felt like someone has given her the widely infamous Gu Poison to eat her alive from the very core.